Fresh veggies and fruits okay during COVID-19

I love salad especially when I can top it with lots of fruits and vegetables. But in this age of COVID-19, what’s safe? Can I eat fresh fruit and fresh vegetables?

The short answer is - YES! But the attention should really be paid to the details…as in prepping it!

Minnesota is my home state and right now fresh fruits and vegetables aren’t widely available. I look forward to the farmers markets that will be opening in a couple months (Fergus Falls Farmers Market is starting June 6), but for now, what do I do with it once I get it home? And, once the farmers markets open, how should I handle produce?

Just like always, really. Wash it!

Still have qualms? The Food and Drug Administration currently says there is no evidence to suggest that food produced in the United States can transmit COVID-19. And there is no evidence of food or food packaging being associated with the transmission of the virus.

While cooking can kill bacteria and pathogens, it’s not always conducive to a particular vegetable or fruit. So what now?

Again, wash it. According to the experts, it just takes water. Lots of rinsing. Even if a fruit or vegetable has a skin to peel or cut off, rinse the fruit or vegetable - just rinse fruits, like berries, before using.

A good wash with plain water is the method of choice for growers like Deb Buehler of Buehler’s Produce of Ottertail, MN and Lois Detloff, market manager of the Staples Farmers Market. They mentioned using water and a salad spinner.

In my on-line world (i.e. time on social media) I’ve run across a person or two who’ve talked about using soap to clean veggies and fruits, but one individual said the method made her feel a little ill. Yes, you don’t need commercial soaps. Just plain old water.

Want extra assurance? Use a vinegar wash of three parts water and one part vinegar to make the goodies extra clean. There are also veggie and fruit washes one can buy in the store, but the vinegar and water wash is a good at-home method.

So, before you prep the fruits or vegetables, wash your hands - 20 seconds - then wash the produce. Once your done with the prep, wash your hands again - 20 seconds. Don’t wash the veggies and fruits with soap, but DO wash your hands with it!

And, as the farmers markets do open, consider some thoughts from Craig Netland and Glenn Rosentretter. The two sell vegetables and freshly baked breads at the Fergus Falls Farmers Market. Produce is raised on land Glenn’s great-great grandfather farmed. The two men have about five acres dedicated to their market garden and plant and harvest about 3 to 4 acres of it each year, leaving the remainder to rest for the next year.

All of the produce, from the corn and lettuce to garlic, pumpkins, squash, gourds and more, are picked and readied for sale by the two.

“I pick the tomatoes, I put them in a container and I bring them to the market,” Glenn said. "There’s no group of pickers, no extra handling, no warehouse, no one else stocking the shelves.”

The two admit farmers markets will look a little different from markets in the past. There will be no sampling nor seating areas to enjoy a fresh caramel roll and coffee, but there will be hand washing or sanitizing stations at the vast majority of markets. And social distancing will be strongly encouraged.

But the same homegrown goodness will abound.

Above all, don’t panic! Use caution and common sense and follow guidelines.

Take care. We’ve got this!

Any questions? Ask your local growers! They have many tips on washing and prepping vegetables.